PRAYER, WITNESSING, AND SERVICE

Passage: Colossians 4:2-18

Key verse: 2

NIV

Further Instructions

2 Devote yourselves to prayer,(A) being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(B) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(C) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(D) 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise(E) in the way you act toward outsiders;(F) make the most of every opportunity.(G) 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace,(H) seasoned with salt,(I) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(J)

Final Greetings

7 Tychicus(K) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](L) in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(M) 9 He is coming with Onesimus,(N) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(O) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(P) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(Q) the cousin of Barnabas.(R) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers(S) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(T) who is one of you(U) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(V) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(W) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(X) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(Y) the doctor, and Demas(Z) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(AA) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(AB)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(AC) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus:(AD) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(AE)

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(AF) Remember(AG) my chains.(AH) Grace be with you.(AI)

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
  2. Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
  3. Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Further Instructions

2 (A)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it (B)with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may (C)open to us a door for the word, (D)to declare the mystery of Christ, (E)on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

5 (F)Walk in wisdom toward (G)outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always (H)be gracious, (I)seasoned with salt, (J)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

7 Tychicus will tell you (K)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[a] in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him (L)Onesimus, our faithful and (M)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 (N)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark (O)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—(P)if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called (Q)Justus. (R)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and (S)they have been a comfort to me. 12 (T)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always (U)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand (V)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 (W)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does (X)Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and (Y)the church in her house. 16 And when (Z)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to (AA)Archippus, “See that you fulfill (AB)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, (AC)write this greeting with my own hand. (AD)Remember (AE)my chains. (AF)Grace be with you.

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
  2. Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Prayer and witnessing (2-6)

What a great blessing we have in Jesus that we can come before our Father's throne as his precious children and receive grace and mercy in prayer! Paul says we are to devote ourselves to prayer, to be alert to what is happening around us, and to have an attitude of thanksgiving. Our prayers must also focus on the advancement of the gospel, asking God for opportunities and wisdom to share the good news of Jesus.We must be careful in our conduct and conversations with others, seizing every opportunity we can to witness in a way that is full of grace and truth.

2. Faithful service (7-18)

As Paul shares his final greetings, we are amazed by the image of Christ we see in all his coworkers. Tychicus and Onesimus are both described as faithful and dear. They would personally convey Paul's love and circumstances to the Colossians Epaphras continued to work hard for the sake of God's people and faithfully wrestled in prayer for them. Paul's life is perhaps the greatest example of them all. His chains remind us of the sacrificial life he lived for the sake of Christ.

Prayer: Father, give us strength to pray and serve.

One Word: Devote yourself to prayer